Chromitite
A rock classification type
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About Chromitite
A igneous rock dominated chromite or magnesiochromite, usually with olivine and/or serpentine. The BGS classification (Gillespie and Styles, 1999) states they consist of at least 90% chromite-magnesiochromite, but many geologists use the term for any rock dominated by these minerals. The chromite may be partly altered to ferritchromite.
The term has also been used for a mixture of chromite with magnetite or hematite (Ref: AGI).
It typically forms as layers or pod-like bodies within ultramafic rock formations and is a primary source for extracting chromium (used for stainless steel) and platinum-group elements.
The term has also been used for a mixture of chromite with magnetite or hematite (Ref: AGI).
It typically forms as layers or pod-like bodies within ultramafic rock formations and is a primary source for extracting chromium (used for stainless steel) and platinum-group elements.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
48103
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48103:4
Similar Names
| Chrom-Biotit | A variety of Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Cr/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Chromatite | A valid IMA mineral species | CaCr6+O4 |
Classification of Chromitite
Mineralogy of Chromitite
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Chromite | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
| Olivine Group | M2SiO4 |
| Serpentine | A group of phyllosilicate minerals. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Chromitite associated with Uvarovite | Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 3 photos of Chromitite associated with Chromite | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| 3 photos of Chromitite associated with Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Chromitite associated with 'Chromium-bearing Clinochlore' | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| 1 photo of Chromitite associated with 'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series' | |
| 1 photo of Chromitite associated with Redledgeite | Ba(Ti4+6Cr3+2)O16 |
| 1 photo of Chromitite associated with 'Dunite' | |
| 1 photo of Chromitite associated with Magnesiochromite | MgCr2O4 |
| 1 photo of Chromitite associated with 'Serpentinite' |
Internet Links for Chromitite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-48103.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Chromitite
Reference List:
Arai, Shoji (1997) Origin of podiform chromitites. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 15 (2) 303-310 doi:10.1016/s0743-9547(97)00015-9
Miura, Makoto, Arai, Shoji, Ahmed, Ahmed H., Mizukami, Tomoyuki, Okuno, Masayuki, Yamamoto, Shinji (2012) Podiform chromitite classification revisited: A comparison of discordant and concordant chromitite pods from Wadi Hilti, northern Oman ophiolite. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 59. 52-61 doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2012.05.008
Derbyshire, E.J., O'Driscoll, B., Lenaz, D., Gertisser, R., Kronz, A. (2013) Compositionally heterogeneous podiform chromitite in the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland): Implications for chromitite petrogenesis and late-stage alteration in the upper mantle portion of a supra-subduction zone ophiolite. Lithos, 162. 279-300 doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2012.11.013
Localities for Chromitite
Showing 244 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Albania | |
| 12 (12) +2 other references |
| Wu et al. (2023) |
| Bussolesi et al. (2022) |
Algeria | |
| Augé et al. (2012) |
Argentina | |
| Proenza et al. (2008) |
| Proenza et al. (2008) |
Australia | |
| Ian Graham collection +1 other reference |
| Brown et al. (1992) |
| English et al. (2010) |
| ... |
Austria | |
| K. N. Malitch. (2001) +2 other references |
| Malitch et al. (2002) |
| Malitch et al. (2003) |
Brazil | |
| Scarpelli et al. (2018) |
| Garuti et al. (2007) |
| Garuti et al. (2012) |
| - (n.d.) +3 other references |
| Mansur et al. (2017) |
Bulgaria | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Gervilla et al. (2012) |
Canada | |
| Scheel et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Theyer (2000) |
| Theyer (2000) | |
| Hulbert et al. (1998) | |
| Mealin (2005) | |
| 12 (12) +1 other reference |
| Hulbert et al. (1998) |
| Laudadio et al. (2022) |
| Macdonald et al. (1988) |
| 12 (12) +1 other reference |
| |
Chile | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2025) |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2016) |
| Galdames et al. (2010) +1 other reference | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2016) | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2016) | |
China | |
| Sun et al. (2025) |
| Zhu et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Tang et al. (2026) |
| Yuan et al. (2025) |
| Yuan et al. (2025) |
| FENG et al. (2017) +1 other reference | |
| Yuan et al. (2025) | |
| Yuan et al. (2025) |
| Zhang et al. (2023) |
| Pujol-Solà et al. (2021) |
| Guo et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| Xiong et al. (2022) | |
| Xu et al. (2009) +1 other reference | |
| Hong et al. (2026) | |
| Xiong et al. (2025) | |
| Zhang et al. (2016) | |
| Wang et al. (2023) |
| Wen et al. (2024) |
| Zhu et al. (2016) +3 other references | |
Costa Rica | |
| Zaccarini et al. (2025) |
Cuba | |
| Costafreda et al. (2024) |
| Aiglsperger et al. (Eastern Cuban Ophiolites) +3 other references |
| Rui et al. (2022) | |
| Pujol-Solà et al. (2018) | |
| Gevilla et al. (2005) | |
Cyprus | |
| Zaccarini et al. (2025) |
| Zaccarini et al. (2025) |
| Zaccarini et al. (2025) | |
Dominican Republic | |
| Aiglsperger et al. (2021) |
| Farré-de-Pablo et al. (2020) | |
| 12 (12) +2 other references | |
East Timor | |
| Lay et al. (2017) |
Egypt | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Zoheir et al. (2024) |
| Khedr et al. (2020) | |
| Abdel‐Karim et al. (2018) | |
| Ahmed et al. (2003) | |
| Abdelfadil et al. (2024) | |
Eurasian Plate | |
| Farhan et al. (2026) | |
Finland | |
| Geological Survey of Finland Guide 51a |
| Outokumpu |
| González-Pérez et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| Vuollo et al. (1995) |
France | |
| Cano et al. (2025) |
| 12 (12) +2 other references |
Greece | |
| Grieco et al. (2023) |
| 12 (12) +3 other references |
| Kapsiotis et al. (2016) +4 other references |
| Bussolesi et al. (2020) |
| Bussolesi et al. (2022) | |
| Sideridis et al. (2022) |
| Sideridis et al. (2022) | |
| 12 (12) +4 other references |
| Economou-Eliopoulos et al. (2019) |
| 12 (12) +2 other references | |
| 12 (12) +1 other reference | |
| Economou-Eliopoulos et al. (2019) |
| Economou-Eliopoulos et al. (2019) |
| Kapsiotis (2013) |
| Tzamos et al. (2016) |
| Garuti et al. (1997) +1 other reference | |
Greenland | |
| Guotana et al. (2018) |
| Bishop et al. (1980) |
India | |
| González-Jiménez +4 other references |
| Premi et al. (2023) |
| Nayak et al. (2023) |
| Raju et al. (2007) |
| Mondal et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| Lenaz et al. (2021) |
Indonesia | |
| 12 (12) +2 other references |
| Idrus et al. (2022) | |
| Idrus et al. (2022) |
Iran | |
| Taghipour et al. (2018) |
| Taghipour et al. (2018) | |
| Baccolo et al. (2019) |
| Rahmani et al. (2020) | |
| Mehdikhani et al. (2021) |
Iraq | |
| Ismail et al. (2010) |
Italy | |
| Zaccarini et al. (2025) |
| Bussolesi et al. (2019) |
Japan | |
| Miura et al. (2018) |
| Sawada et al. (2022) |
| Arai et al. (1994) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Saveliev et al. (2023) |
| Saveliev et al. (2023) | |
Madagascar | |
| Grieco et al. (2010) |
Mauritania | |
| Berger et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Mexico | |
| Ortega-Gutierrez +2 other references |
Mongolia | |
| Dostal et al. (2026) |
| Dostal et al. (2026) |
| Dostal et al. (2026) |
| Dostal et al. (2026) |
Morocco | |
| Wafik et al. (2026) |
Myanmar | |
| Heo (2017) |
| Kyaw Lin et al. (2026) |
| Kyaw Lin et al. (2026) | |
New Zealand | |
| Patias et al. (2024) |
| Patias et al. (2024) |
| Brathwaite et al. (2017) | |
Norway | |
| Moore (1977) |
| Moore (1977) | |
| Qiu et al. (2024) |
| 12 (12) +1 other reference | |
Oman | |
| Arai +4 other references |
Pakistan | |
| Zafar et al. (2025) |
| Farhan et al. (2026) |
| Ullah et al. (2025) |
| Farhan et al. (2026) |
Peru | |
| Castroviejo et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
Philippines | |
| Kay (1987) |
| Aquino et al. (2022) | |
Poland | |
| Wojtulek et al. (2016) |
| Elsherif et al. (2023) |
| Wojtulek et al. (2016) |
Russia | |
| Garuti et al. (2021) |
| Garuti et al. (2021) | |
| 12 (12) +2 other references |
| Saveliev et al. (2018) | |
| Saveliev et al. (2018) | |
| Kiseleva +3 other references |
| Kislov +1 other reference |
| 12 (12) +2 other references |
| Mochalov et al. (2022) |
| Nazimova et al. (2003) +3 other references |
| Kutyrev et al. (2021) +1 other reference | |
| Kutyrev et al. (2018) +1 other reference | |
| Lennikov et al. (2004) |
| Barkov et al. (2021) |
| Badanina et al. (2011) |
| Malitch et al. (2013) | |
| Kiseleva et al. (2024) |
| Yurichev (2020) | |
| Kislov et al. (2020) |
| Serov (2021) |
| Chistyakova S et al. (2014) +1 other reference | |
| Barkov +4 other references |
| Пономарев et al. (2024) |
| Sustavov et al. (2019) |
| Okrugin et al. (2018) |
| Kiseleva et al. (2014) |
| 12 (12) +2 other references | |
| Sklyarov et al. (2023) | |
| Zaccarini et al. (2016) |
| Kissin et al. (2020) |
| Stepanov et al. (2023) |
| Stepanov et al. (2023) | |
| Koroteev et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
| Krause et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Stepanov et al. (2020) |
| Krause et al. (2007) |
| Zaccarini et al. (2011) | |
| Мурзин et al. (2020) |
| Krause et al. (2007) +1 other reference | |
| Stepanov et al. (2017) | |
| Zaccarini et al. (2013) |
| Shabutdinov et al. (2024) | |
| Yurichev (2021) |
| Rappenglück (2022) | |
| Shmelev V.R. et al. (2014) | |
| Pekov et al. (2024) |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Prichard et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
Serbia | |
| Krstic et al. (1997) |
South Africa | |
| Smith et al. (2021) |
| McCreesh et al. (2018) |
| Northam Platinum |
| Kottke-Levin (2011) | |
| Montjoie (2018) | |
| Oberthür et al. (2021) |
| Scoon (2025) | |
| Yudovskaya et al. (2011) |
| Van der Merwe (2011) +1 other reference | |
| Holwell et al. (2007) |
| Canham et al. (2025) |
| Sutherland et al. (2013) | |
| Grobler et al. (2019) |
| Roberts +2 other references |
| an estimate of the effects of subsolidus reequilibration. Economic Geology (4) +1 other reference | |
| Dzvinamurungu +6 other references |
| Smith et al. (2021) |
| Junge et al. (2014) | |
Spain | |
| Oen et al. (1980) |
| Baurier-Aymat +7 other references |
| Baurier-Aymat +7 other references | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2017) | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2017) |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2017) | |
| Gervilla et al. (2002) | |
| - (n.d.) |
| García-Tudela et al. (2024) |
Syria | |
| Sharkov et al. (1997) |
Tanzania | |
| Wilhelmij et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Evans et al. (2012) |
Turkey | |
| Akbulut et al. (2010) |
| El-Raouf et al. (2024) |
| Kozlu et al. (2010) |
| Uysal (2008) +1 other reference |
| Günay et al. (2016) |
| Ishimaru et al. (2018) |
| Xiong et al. (2022) |
| - (n.d.) |
| Koptagel et al. (1997) |
UK | |
| Bish et al. (1981) +2 other references |
| 12 (12) +2 other references | |
| Power et al. (2004) |
Ukraine | |
| Gornostayev et al. (2001) |
USA | |
| Windom et al. (1991) |
| Andersen et al. (2018) |
Zimbabwe | |
| Anglo American plc |
Sommergraben, Sankt Stefan ob Leoben, Leoben District, Styria, Austria